Pumping Irony

Recent research suggests that the “good” cholesterol that helps seniors prevent heart attacks and strokes may also raise their risk of developing dementia.

At a time when the U.S. population is aging at an unprecedented pace, the number of geriatricians trained to treat older patients is dwindling. Rebuilding that profession may require more than what our healthcare system can muster.

A much-delayed visit with a dermatologist offers some painful lessons about the danger of ignoring “benign” skin cancers — as well as the damage that may result from treating them.

Hospitals and medical groups across the country are severing ties with Medicare Advantage insurers, leaving seniors scrambling to find new providers that will accept their insurance.

Can lifestyle changes free us from the ravages of dementia? Recent research offers a modicum of hope, but few assurances.

Dreading the idea of growing old? A new study suggests such a view may keep you from engaging in the physical activity necessary to age gracefully.

Doctors and dentists are each in a position to identify symptoms the other could treat. Referrals, however, are exceedingly rare — leaving seniors especially vulnerable and public health experts routinely vexed.

While a growing percentage of Americans express skepticism about flu vaccines and other recommended immunizations, recent research offers a fresh incentive to roll up your sleeve: Those shots may reduce your risk of developing dementia.

Seniors are increasingly choosing to delay retirement, a trend some experts believe must accelerate if we want to protect Social Security and Medicare for the next generation.

Older drivers suffering from certain chronic illnesses can pose a threat to themselves and others on the road, but convincing them to surrender their car keys is no easy task. The Japanese government may have found a way to override their objections.

A new study suggests that seniors who spend too much time sitting around may be more prone to develop dementia — even if they exercise regularly.

Despite concerns about vision loss, seniors like me tend to ignore preventive screenings and treatments. Accessibility is an issue, experts say, but a lack of collaboration between physicians and ophthalmologists plays a role as well.

The scientific community continues to struggle to understand how to diagnose and treat long COVID, which can be especially hard on seniors. But some critics believe the answers are hidden in plain sight.

While Medicare can now force major drugmakers to negotiate some prices, observers question whether it will result in much savings — or in better health outcomes — for U.S. seniors.

Scorching summer temperatures — and the potential health hazards that come with them — increasingly await U.S. retirees settling in the Sun Belt.

Medicare is prepared to pay as much as $5 billion a year to cover a new Alzheimer’s drug while ignoring the in-home care needs of seniors with dementia who live alone.

Older adults are more likely than most to struggle with sleep issues, and recent research suggests tossing and turning could shorten our lifespans. The solution? Exercise.

Cholesterol has long been known for its role in cardiovascular function, but new research suggests it may someday be put to work to hinder the development of Alzheimer’s.

Our healthcare system increasingly requires patients to coordinate their own care, a burden that can delay needed procedures — and cost them dearly in time, energy, and money.

The new weight-loss drugs promise transformational changes for their users, but are they right for seniors? Experts urge caution.

Research on the risks and benefits of cholesterol-lowering statins offers little reassurance to septuagenarians like me whose numbers signal potential cardiovascular calamities. The solution? More tests.